Headley case: Cops search cyber cafes, hotels in Delhi

November 15, 2009 17:02 IST

The Delhi police on Sunday conducted searches in cyber cafes and hotels in central Delhi's Paharganj area where suspected Lashkar-e-Tayiba operative David Coleman Headley stayed during his three-day trip here in March this year.

However, senior police officials refused to confirm whether these searches were in connection with investigations into Headley's terror designs in India and maintained that it was part of a "routine exercise".

"This is part of a routine exercise. Every cyber cafe is checked by the police once a week and this area is frequented by people from other parts of the country," a senior police official said.

Headley, who was arrested by the Federal Bureau of Investigation in Chicago last month, had stayed in two hotels in Paharganj for three days from March 7, this year.

A team of the special cell of the Delhi police has visited hotels De Holiday Inn and Anand in Paharganj three days ago and had spoke to the staff there.

Senior officials had then said they would probe whether Headley had used cyber cafes in the area.

The National Investigating Agency has registered a case against Headley and his Canadian accomplice Tahawwur Hussain Rana to probe their role in various terror strikes in the country, including the 26/11 Mumbai attack.

The duo was arrested by the FBI for plotting attacks in India at the LeT's behest.